Automatic fire-extinguishing system.



R. L. MCELROVY 91. E. sHEPHERm AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHPNG SYSTEM. 1

- il f 4 APPLICATION man MAR. 12.1917.'4

patented Apr. 30, 1918.

' n. L. n/lcE-LRUY @L 1. L SHEPHERD. AUTOMATIC FIRE 4EXTNGUISHINGSYSTEM. APPYLICATION FILED MR. l2, 1917.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/Mmedww; Y

nonnina* r.. Montant?, or NEW Yemen. Y., Ann JOHN E.

- vracinra.

SHEPHERD, OF UNIVERSITY,

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM.

Lanai-ae.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 300, i915.

Application led March 12, 1917. Serial lilo. 154,110.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT L. MCELROY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, and JOHN E. SHEPHERD, a citizen of the United States, residing at University, in the count-y of Albemarle and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Automatic Fire- Extinguishing Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The main and primary objects of our invention herein shown, described and claimed, is to provide an automatic lire extinguishing system, and apparatus of exceedingly cheap and'simple form of construction, having little liability to get out of order, and extremely sensitive to rapid rises of temperature occasioned by lire. i l

To such ends, our. invention comprises broadly and in substance a sprinkling member or members, adapted to emit Vand discharge fire extinguishing uidal material upon the fire zone, when electric switch mechanism .is automatically closed by the heat from the fire zone, so as to increase the pressure in the receptacle or receptacles holding the fluidal fire extinguishing material, by the heating of electric heater located therein; and a second and auxiliary heating means, such as a steam-coil, for also supplying heat to such fiuidal fire extinguishing material, to the point of expulsion of thesame, which auxiliary heating device is also put into operation by the heat in the fire zone by the actuation of suitable thermostatic-devices, all the mechanisms being so arranged and interconnected that liability of failure of the apparatus to discharge the fire extinguishing luidal material upon the fire zone, will be reduced to a minimum, `all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

While we have shown herein an air filled thermostatic device for putting the apparaytus into action by the expansion of the entrapped air therein; any suitable thermostatic device that is sufficiently sensitive, but not so much so as to be liable to actuation by increase of temperature from other causes than lire in the immediate vicinity, may be used. Also other fluids than atmospheric air, or even expansible or volatilizable iuids y may be used with equal effect, and as used herein, in the description and claims, we intend the` term fluid and its correlatives to cover all expansible fluids gaseous or liquid. y

Said invention is fully shown and described in the following specifica-tion, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, where- 'in similar letters or numerals of reference tric supply source and automatic switch closincfmechanism; and. 4

Fig. 3, is a like view showing a modified form of such switch, and switch closing mechanism.

Fig. 4:, is a somewhat modified form of construction from that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, partially in section, showing1 additional means for heating the fiuidal material, both within the receptacle and without; and

Fig. 5, is a view similar to Fig. 4,.showing an addition to the structure shown in such Fig. 4, whereby the remaining contents of the receptacle will be forcibly expelled by steam pressure,A when the same has been nearly emptied.

Referring to the drawings;

The reference numeral A designates the wall of the room or apartment; and B the receptacle or tank containing the lire extinguishing fluid, which may be any fluid capable of quickly and rapidly extinguishing the fire; but we prefer to use therefor carbon tetrachlorid. The reference letter C designates a source of electrical energy, usually a battery, having an electrical circuit composed of the wires 1, 2 and 8, in which circuit is included an electric heating-coil or heater D, of any desired form of construction, which is located in the receptacle B, so that when energized it will heat the fire eX- tinguishing fluid therein.

Located in the apartment A, is the appal consists of an arrangement of piping-supported adjacent to the ceiling of the'rooin o'r apartment, comprising a header-pipe 4, hating connected thereto a plurality of outlet pipes 5, usually two or morev in' number,`

as shown, according to the size of the room or apartment to be protectedl thereby. Such outlet-pipes 5 are provided with apluralitv of outlet perforations 6, usually and preferably formed in -andthrough theupper walls thereof, so that the lire extinguishing fluid issuing from'such orifices wlll be d1- rected against the ceiling of the room and thus be spattered thoroughly throughout the same.

The outlet orifices 6, -in order to prevent dust, etc., 'from entering the pipe therethrough, are usually and preferably plugged with some low fusible material, such as soft paraliin wax or the like.

Located adjacent to such voutlet-pipes 5, and usually surrounding the same in the form of a-rectangle, as shown, is the'pipe 8, in communication, at its outerv end, with 'a diaphragm-box 9, having secured `in 'its outer face in any desired manner the diaphragm 10, having secured to the central portion of its face the electric contact-disk 11, which when such diaphragm is forced outward by increase of the air-pressure in the'pipe will contact `with the electric contact-plate 12, so as to close the electric heating-coil or heater circuit; i' For the purpose of Vpreventing ordinary changes of temperature affecting. the diaphragm, the pipe 8 is usually rovided with a very small relief perforation 13, outside of the apartment A,

whereby actuation of the diaphragm 10, -isprevented except upon the quick expansion of the air by a fire within the apartment.

, The header-pipe 4, is connected with the bottom of the tank B by way of the pipe 14, for purposes of repair preferably provided with a stop-cock or valve 15; which pipe 14 communicates with the tank or receptacle B at or adjacent to the bottom by' way of the pipel; and usually and preferably coiled around the pipe 14is a heating-coil 17, connected at one end bya wire 3 with the circuit wire 3, and at the other by the wire 2 with' the circuit wire 2, so

that the samey will be energized and heatedsimultaneously with the coil D, upon the closing of the electric circuit. 1n the modified form of switch shown in Fig. 3, the contact member 11', is normally in contact with a knifell pivoted-thereto, which is usually provided with an upwardly bowed central-portion 18, which when the switch nac-rise 10; and upon the expansion of the cntrapped air in the pipe 7, upoiithe occasion .of a lire, and the consequent throwing of such diaphragm into the position shown in dotted-lines,` in such Fig. 3 as shown at 10, such knife of the switch will be thrown into the circuit closing position shown in dotted lines, so as to close the circuit, and energize the heating-coils, andjcontinue to energize them, until released by hand.

'While we' have shown our improved lire extinguishing system, as adapted only to one room or apartment, it is self-evident that the reservoir B, may be connected with several such apartments, and that upon the occurrence of a fire in any one apartment,

the fire extinguis-hing fluid will escape only in the apartment where the lire exists.

Upon the occurrence of a fire the expansion of the air trapped in the pipe 8, closing the electric-circuit will cause high heat-l ing of the heating-coil D, which will immediately bring about a quick and rapid expansion of the carbon tetra-chlorid or other extinguishing fluidinthe receptacle d, and the vapor generated rising 'to the top of the receptacle will force the liquid into the apartment by way of the pipes 1G, 14, 4 and 5 and out through the v'orifices 6, upon the fire-zone. Carbon tetra-chlorid is the liquid we prefer to use, for the reason that in addition to its great fire extinguishing capability, it volatilizes at a comparatively low temperature, that is about 171 F, or 77 C.

One of the advantages of our improvedv -ire extinguishing system and apparatus herein shown and described consists in the fact that immediately upon the extinguishnient\of the fire, and consequent cooling and contraction ofl` the air in the pipe 8, when the form of switch shown in Fig. 2, is used, this will automatically' break the electric circuit between 11 and 12, and the heating action ofthe coils will at once cease and consequently the flow of the extinguishing fluid will also be at once stopped. But for some purposes and under certain conditions, the form of switch shown in Fig. 3, which will remain closed when once thrown into the circuit closing position, untilv thrown open by hand may be used, in which case the tank'B will of course be completely emptied.

It will be seen that another advantage of our improved form of apparatus lies in by the heating of the carbon tetra-chlorid pipes and transmitted to sprinkle upon the lire-zone. i

In the modified form of Iconstruction shown in Fig. 4, mounted upon the pipes 5, between the sprinkler orifices t3, are a plurality of flanges or heat transmitting rings 20, usually of some highly heat con ducting material such ascopper, etc., by which the heat of the fire-zone will be transmitted-through the pipe-wall to the iire-ex tinguishing fluid within the same. And in this form, located in the-lire extinguishing fluid receptacle B, below the electricl heating coil D, is a steam heating coil E, having no connection with the receptacle B, connected with a suitable steam supply-source (not shown) by a steam inlet pipe- 21. And such inlet pipe. 21 is in connectionA with the inlet pipe 22 of the steam heating coil E; which coil E has an outlet pipe 22. The

pipe 21 is provided with a normally closed,

stop-cock 37 actuated by a vibrating lever 23, adapted to be retracted into `the valve opening position (shown in dotted llines in Fig. 5) by a coilfspring 24 secured'at the upper end to such valve lever 23 and at the other and lower end to a bracket-piece 25 formed integral with or secured to the pipeelbow 26. l

And the valve-lever 23 is normally maintainedl in the horizontal and valve closing position shown in full lines 4in Fig. 4, by contact at its outer en'd With a horizontal solenoid plunger 27, retracted by the energizing of the solenoid coil 28, so as to release suchvvalve lever 23, upon such coil 28 being` energized by the cur-rent from the battery C through the wires 29 and 3Q, as indicated, upon the closing ofthe electric contacts .11 and 12.' By which action the carbon tetra-chlorid or other fire extinguishing iuidal material in the receptacle B, will be highly heated both by the electric heating coil D, and by the steam coil E, and' expanded and vaporized so as to generate sufficient pressure in thereccptacle to force such tire extinguishing tluidal material out of the receptacle by way of the various pipes, and the orilices G of the pipes 5,

such material being additionally heated by the energizing of the heating. coil 17 and the pipe 14, and the heat transmitted to the pipe 5 from the fire zone, especially by the heating rings 20.

And it will be seen that bythus having two sources of heat for heating the fire extinguishing luidal material to thc point of ex- .pausiou` namely, one electric and one steam,

the liability of failure of the device to operate and expel the fluidal fire extinguishing tiuidal material upon the fire zone at the criticalmovement is reduced to an albi-i.

solute minimum.

Fig. .5 shows'a structure diering in noV particular way from that shown lin Fig. 4, save only that within the receptacle B,"between the steam coil and thev outlet pipe 22 thereof, adjacent to theV bottom of the tank,

is located a float-valve 32, actuated by a i' iioat 33, carried upon the end of a vibrating iioat-vlever 34,' pivoted at 35, and `Whenthe receptacle is more than one third full, norl mally keeping the. valve rod 32 ofthe valve 82 in the horizontal valve closing position indicated in full lines ;fsuch valve being kept in such normally closed position by a suitable spring v( not shown) usually located withinthe valve-casing, and upon the level of the liquid inthe receptacle falling below the horizontal normal position of the tloatvalve. lever 34 shown in full lines in Fig. 5, such valve 82 will be opened so as to allow live steam to escape into the receptacle as indicated by the arrows, whereby all the carbon tetra-chlorid will under the pressure of such steam, by the falling of the float as shown in dot-ted lines, be forced out of the receptacle upon the ire-zone.

lVhile in Figs. 4 and 5 we have shown the `heating coils adjacent to the top of the re-4 ceptacleD, usually and preferably such coils may be located at the bottom so as to heat the carbon tetra-ehlorid, etc., even though but a small portion remains therein, but as that portion of the drawings showing such coils are diagrammatic, we have not deemed it essential to so show the same in such lower position.

Many modifications and changes of.construction ot-herthan those shown and described herein may be made without departing from the scope of our invention, and we do not intend to limit ourselves toythe exact construction or .arrangement of any of. the

several shown.

We claim: y

1. An automatic re-extinguishing systcm, comprising `a sprinkling apparatus adapted to discharge a lire extinguishing fluid upon thefirezone; a receptacle adapt'- cd to contain a fire extinguishing fluid in communication with the sprinkler; means for heating the tire extinguishing fluid so hat its own expansion will force it into and out of the sprinkler upon the fire-zone; and a thermostatic device located adjacent to the Sprinkler adapted to put the liquid heating apparatus into action upon the temperature reaching a predetermined high point.

2. An automatic fire-extinguishing systcm, comprising a sprinkling apparatus adapted to discharge a fire extinguishing fluid upon the fire-zone; a receptacle adaptparts of our said invention herein communication with thesprinklcr; means for heating ,the lire extinguishing fluid so that its own expansion Will torce it into and l'out of' the sprinkler. upon the fire-zone; ,and a thermostatic Ldevice located adjacent to the sprinkler adapted to put the liquid heating apparatus into action upon the temperature y reaching a predetermined high point, the sprinkler system being normally and until the actuation of the heatingv device unfilled with the ire extinguishing liuid.

3. An' automaticv fire-extinguishing system, comprising a sprinkling apparatus adapted to discharge a lire extinguishing fluid upon the fire-Zone; a `receptacle adapt-` ed to contain a fire extinguishing fluid in communication with, the sprinkler; means for heating the fire extinguishing fluid so that itsj` own expansion will force it into and out of the sprinklers upon the fire-Zone; and a fluid thermostatic' device located adjacent to thesprinkler adapted to put the liquidv heating appara-.tus into action upon the temperature reaching a predetermin-ed high point, by` the expansion of the fluid` therein.

fi. An automatic fire-extinguishing system7 comprising a sprinkling apparatus adapted to discharge a fire l'extinguishing f fluid upon the fire-Zone; a receptacleadapted to contain a fire extinguishing fluid in communication, with the sprinkler; means for electric-ally heating the fire extinguishing fluid so that its own expansion Will force it into and out of thesprinkler upon the firezone; and a fluid thermostatic device located adjacent to the sprinkler adapted to set thev communication With the sprinkler; means' for electrically heating'the lire' extinguishing -fluid so that its own expansion-will force ,it into and out of the sprinkler upon the nre-zone; and an atmospheric thermostatic detf'ice located adjacent to the sprinkler adapted to set the liquid heating apparatus into action'upon thetemperature reaching a predetermined high-point, by the expansion of the air in the thermostatic device` by closing the electric circuit.

6. An 'automatic lire-extinguishing. system, comprising a sprinkling apparatus adapted to discharge a. fire extinguishing fluid `upon the fire-zone r a receptacle adapted to contain a fire extinguishing fluid`in communication with the sprinkler; means' for electrically heating the re extinguishing fluid so that its own expansion Will force itiinto and out of the sprinkler upon the firezoneand alluid thermostatic device located adjacent to the sprinkler adapted to set the liquid heating apparatus into action upon the temperature reaching a predetermined high-point, by the expansion of the fluid in the thermostat by closing the electric circuit, the sprinkler system itself being normally and until the actuation of the heating device filled only with air.

V An automatic fire-extinguishing system, comprising a sprinkling apparatus comprising a pipe arranged adjacent to the roof of the apartment to be protected, having perforations in the upper Wall portion, adapted to discharge a fire extinguishing fluid upon the fire-zone; a receptacle adapted to contain a fire extinguishing fluid in communication With the sprinkler; means for heating the fire extinguishing fluid so that its oWn expansion Will force it into and out of the sprinkler upon the fire-zone; and a thermostatic device located adjacent to the sprinkler adapted to putv the liquid heating apparatus into action upon the temperature reaching a predetermined abnormally high point. y

8. An automatic hre-extinguishing system,- comprising a sprinkling apparatus comprising a pipe arranged adjacent to the roof of the apartment to be protected, having perforations in the upper Wall portion normally closed by an easily fusible material, adapted to discharge a fire extinguishing fluid upon the' re-zone; a receptacle adapted to contain a fire extinguishing fluir in communication with the sprinkler; means for heating the fire extinguishing fluid so that its own expansion Will force it into and out of the sprinklerl upon the lire-zone; and a thermostatic device located adjacent to the sprinkler adapted to put the liquid heat- `ing apparatus into action upon the temperaing fluid in communication with the sprin-` lll) kler; an electric heater adapted to heat the Y f i'luid in such receptacle upon the closing of -v cent to the sprinkler; and a normally broken electrical contact, closed by the action of the `thermostat upon the temperature adjacent to the sprinkler reaching a predetermined abnormally high point, and the consequent expansion of the fluid in the thermostaticsprinkler adapted tc discharge a nre exceptacle adapted to contain a fire extinl guishing fluid in communication with the sprinkler; an electric heater adaptedto heat the fluid in such receptacle upon the closing of the electric circuit; a source of' electric energy forming part of such electric circuit; a fluid thermostatic device arranged adjacent to the sprinkler; and a normally broken electrical contact, closed by the action of the thermostatic device upon the temperaturek `adjacent to -the sprinkler reaching a predetermined abnormally high point, and the consequent expansion of the fluid in the thermostatic device; the thermostatic device being provided With a relief orifice for permitting gradual escape of the entrapped fluid during slight rises in temperature caused by normal conditions.

11. In a devicel of the class described, a sprinkler adapted to discharge a fire eX- tinguishing fluid upon the fire-zone; a closed receptacle adapted to contain a fire extinguishing fluid in communication With the sprinkler; a steam supply-pipe; a steaml heating-coil located in the receptacle in f communication With the steam supply pipe; a normally closed automatically opened valve locatedvin the pipe-line; and means for automatically releasingwsuch valve vupon the temperature reaching a 4predetermined high-point. l

12. In a device of the class described, a sprinkler adapted to discharge a lire eX- tinguishing fluid upon the fire zone; .a closed'` receptacle adapted to contain a re-eXtin-'1 guishing fluid in communication With thev sprinkler; an electric-heater located in the receptacle adaptedto heat the fluid in such receptacle upon the closing of theelectric `circuit of the heater; a source of electric energy included in such circuit; a thermostatic device arranged adjacentI to the sprinkler, a normally broken electrical contact, closed by the action of the thermostaticdevice upon the temperature adjacent to the sprinkler reaching an abnormal predeter-` xmined` high point; a steam-supply pipe; a steam heating-coil located in the receptacle; in communication Withthe steam supplya normally closed'. automatically opened valve located in the pipe-line; and means for automatically releasing such valve upon the temperature reaching a predetermined high-polnt. l 13. In a device of the class described, a sprinkler adapted to discharge a lire extinguishing lluid upon the re zone; a closed receptacle adapted to contain a fire extinguishing fluid in communication With the sprinkler; a steam supply-pipe; a steam heating-coil located/in the receptacle in l communication With the steam supply-pipe;

a normally closed float-valve connected with the steam-coal, adapted to automatically open upon the falling of the float so as to admit steamtothereceptacle; anormallyclosed automatically opened valve located in the pipeline; and means for automatically releasing such valve upon thetemperature reaching a predetermined high-point.

14. In a device of the class described, a sprinkler adapted' to discharge a fire eX- tinguishing fluid upon the lire zone; a

closed receptacle adapted to contain a fireextinguishing fluid in communication With thesprinkler; an electric-heater located in the receptacle 'adapted to heat the fluid in such receptacle upon the closing of the electric circuit ofthe heater; a source of electric energy included in such circuit; a thermostatic device arranged adjacent to the sprinkler; a normally broken electrical ccntact, closed by the action-of the thermostatic4 device upon the temperature adjacent to the sprinkler reaching van abnormal predetermined high point; a steam supply-pipe; a

,steam heating-coil located in the receptacle,

in communication lwith the steam -supplypipe; a normally closed float valve connected With the steam-coil', adapted to automaticallyopen upon the falling of the float so vasto admit steam to the receptacle; all norvmally closed automatically opened valvevlocated in the pipe line; and. means for automatically releasing such valve upon the temperature reaching a predetermined highpoint.

15. sprinkler adapted'to discharge afire extinguishing fluid upon the fire zone; a closed receptacle adapted to contain a fire-extinguishing fluid in communication with the sprinkler; an 'electric-heater located in the receptacle adapted to' heat the Huid in'such receptacle upon the closing of the electric j circuit o f the heater; a source of electric energy included 1n such circult; -a subsldlary electric heater coil superposed upon the sprinkler feed-pipe outside of the receptacle, energized simultaneously With the heater in the-receptacleha `thermostatic device arranged adjacent tothe sprinkler; a normally broken electrical contact, closed by the action of the thermostatic device upon the temperature adjacent to the sprinkler reaching an labnormal predetermined high point; a steam supply-pipe; a steam heatying-coil locatedin the receptacle in communication With the steam supply-pipe" .a

normally closed automatically openedva ve In a` device. ofthe class described, a

located in the pipeline; and means for autoi maticallylreleasing suchfvalve upon the temperature reaching a predetermined highpoint.

16. In a device of the class described; a closed receptacle adapted to contain a liuidal fire-extinguishing material; a heater located within the receptacle; means for heating the heater; a thermostatic device automatically putting the heating means into operation upon the temperature'reaching an abnormally high point; a sprinkler-pipe system in communication with the receptacle; and va subsidiary heater heating the pipesystem actuated simultaneously With the receptacle;

17. In a device of the class described a closed receptacle adapted to contain a luidal fire-extinguishing material; a heater located Within the receptacle; means for heatring the heater; a thermostatic device automatically putting the heating means into 0p'- eration upon 4the temperature reaching an abnormally hi'ght point; -a sprinkler pipe- `system in communication With the receptacle; a subsidiary heater heating the pipesystern actuated simultaneously with the heater in the receptacle; and heat-conducting flanges or members carried by the sprinkier pipes adapted to conduct the heat of the lire-zone to such pipes and through them to the fire extinguishing fluid therein.

18.111 a device of the class described2 a sprinkler adapted to discharge a fire extinguishing fluid upon the tire zone; a closed receptacle adapted to contain a lire extinguishing fluid in communication with the sprinkler; an electro-heater locatedin the receptacle adapted to heat the iuid in such receptacleupcn the closing of the electric circuit of the heater; a source of electric energy included in such circuit; a subsidiary electric heater coil superposed upon the sprinkler feed-pipe outside of the recep.- tacle, energized simultaneously With the heater in the receptacle; a fluid thermostutic device arranged adjacent to the sprinkler; a normally broken electrical contact, closed by the action of the thermostat-ic device upon the vtemperature adjacent to the sprinkler reaching' an abnormal predetermined high point; a steam supply-pipe; a steam heat- ROBERT L. MGELROY. JOHN E. SHEPHERD.

Witnesses:

GADD DAvIs, H. D. PENNEY. 

